<p>I have a few questions regarding the major, be great if some PAM students can offer their input. </p>
<p>What kind of careers do most people in PAM go into afterwards? Do they have good pick of jobs coming graduating? I saw the small data sheet they have on the site but it does not go into great detail or is at all comprehensive.</p>
<p>How is the major for Finance (Ibanking, S&T, ER) come recruiting season? For Consulting? I've heard conflicting explanations, that your major does and doesn't matter from different people. Will PAM majors play second fiddle to AEM, Econ kids? How does it compare in placement to ILR? </p>
<p>For those that have taken PAM classes, how do you like to courses? the professors? is it interesting to you? engaging?</p>
<p>Greatly appreciate anyone who can help me answer some of these questions. Thanks</p>
<p>*How is the major for Finance (Ibanking, S&T, ER) come recruiting season? For Consulting? I’ve heard conflicting explanations, that your major does and doesn’t matter from different people. Will PAM majors play second fiddle to AEM, Econ kids? How does it compare in placement to ILR? *</p>
<p>Actually getting a job requires a different set of skills. Those jobs are looking for specific people despite whatever they may have studied (well, not totally) in college. AEM and Econ folks may have more of a knowledge base than a PAM major, though.</p>
<p>If your goal is finance/ibanking: Econ=AEM>PAM. I’d actually give a slight edge to econ since it’s significantly more rigorous, but I’m also biased since I graduated from econ. AEM is a top-ranked program. That said, just go with whichever interests you the most. Take a look at sample courses from each program. If you do well and take relevant courses, you’ll be fine. My advice for anyone looking to focus in finance though is do as much math as possible. Is multivariable calculus or advanced algebra necessary? No. But it will make you significantly more competitive.</p>
<p>For consulting, you need to have high GPA and really, really ace the interviews. I don’t think major matters much at all. Consulting interviews are very rigorous (much more rigorous than other jobs) and not too many make it all the way through. So, getting a consulting job is your ability, not the major.</p>
<p>For banking, it is much more of your internships and being able to sell yourself in interviews than your major.</p>
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<p>I would strongly disagree with this. The choice of major doesn’t matter much at all for these types of jobs. Interviewing skills and work experiences trump the choice of your major, by far.</p>
<p>Given the OP asked for academic advice, I stand by what I said. Obviously interviewing skills and experience matter a great deal, but I approach these sort of advice questions from an “all else equal” approach. The econ curriculum will best reinforce the critical thinking skills that these sort of firms value, which most certainly will be a part of the interview. But if you don’t choose to go the econ route, I still encourage taking as much math as possible because that will give you the same sort of critical thinking skills. Also, to do high level ibanking/finance actually does require advanced math skills, especially if you are programming their quantitative market models.</p>
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<p>Getting into IBD and Trading is very dependent on a peron’s drive, networking skills, and interview skills. Getting into PE/VC/Hedge Fund (or what anyone would consider ‘high finance’), in large part, is closed since they don’t directly recruit out of undergrad. (in most cases) You would have to be a god to get into a HF/PE directly out of undergrad. People who get there usaully start off at IBD or Trading at BB, excel at their jobs, network their butts off, and lateral later. So, I wouldn’t necessarily associate taking math/quant courses as an advantage for getting a job in finance, it ultimately comes down to how good you are at your job and how good you are at stuffs like interviewing/networking. </p>
<p>P.S. - You would be surprised to observe that a very large volume of traders majored in things very remote from anything related to math. For trading, you learn all stuff on the job/ through internships. I guess being good at math could help you perform better once you get the job, but I am skeptical that it would actually help you get in the door.</p>
<p>^I know very little about any of this, and I am looking into it more and more, but aren’t strong quantitative skills highly valued- and almost essential- in jobs related to finance?</p>
<p>Entry level jobs aren’t necessarily all that quantitative, and you will tend to get training as you move up the ladder. That said, math skills are probably the single most valued skill to have when competing for these jobs.</p>